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Most homes in the USA have an HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) unit to help regulate their home temperature. The thermostat is the control center of an HVAC unit, which means that you need to choose a smart thermostat that’s right for your home environment and your needs. But do you know how to choose a smart thermostat for your home?
Being able to regulate the temperature inside your home is critical to the health, wellbeing, and comfort of the people living there, especially if you live in states with extreme temperatures. HVACs also help keep homes safe by making the air circulate to prevent mold growth and mildew in the walls and floors. Now that you know how important it is to have a thermostat, here is a guide on how to choose a smart thermostat for your home.
What is a Smart Thermostat?
When you hear the words “smart thermostat,” you probably think of a thermostat system that you can synchronize with your home WiFi. However, modern smart thermostats offer more features than simple adjustments to the temperature using your phone.
Many smart thermostats use algorithms and artificial learning to “study and memorize” your preferred heating and cooling patterns. Instead of simply reacting to the changing temperatures in the environment, a smart thermostat can adjust the temperature in your home to your exact preferences. What’s more, it will continuously adjust the temperature throughout the day so that the environment inside your home remains constant despite the fluctuating temperatures outside.
Smart thermostats also have geofencing functions. They can synchronize with your smartphone to know when you’re away from your house. Whenever you’re away from your home, the smart thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature to converse energy. Over time, you’ll maximize your savings without worrying about the temperature inside your home!
Other additional features that you can find in smart thermostats include a voice remote sensor activation, so that you can control your thermostat even if you’re not at home, as well as voice control and pairing with other smart devices in your house to make your home more convenient and streamlined.
How to Choose a Smart Thermostat
Before you answer the question, “Which smart thermostat should I buy?”
Your Home’s HVAC System
Before rushing out and buying the most hi-tech smart thermostat out there, you need to know the kind of HVAC system installed in your home. Even if you can afford the most advanced and modern smart thermostat, it won’t mean anything if it can’t pair up with your home’s HVAC system.
There are four types of HVAC systems: split systems, duct-free systems, hybrid systems, and packaged heating and air systems. You can check the packaging of your smart thermostat to see if it is compatible with your HVAC system. In some cases, you might need to purchase separate thermostats if you have separate cooling and heating systems installed in your home.
Your Home’s Wiring
Most smart thermostats need a C-wire. C-wires, or common wires, is an extra wire that’s solely used to provide continuous power to your WiFi. Most homes already have a C-wire installed, but if you’re unsure if your home has one, you need to have it checked by an HVAC technician. While there are smart thermostat models that can be used without a C-wire, HVAC technicians do not recommend it because it can damage your wiring.
How Much Is a Smart Thermostat?
To know how to choose a smart thermostat, you need to consider how much money you’re willing to spend on this gadget. Smart thermostats don’t come cheap, and the more features you want, the higher the price tag will get. Even the most basic units will cost around $130, while fully loaded models can cost around $300.
Aside from the cost of the unit itself, you might also need to shell out money for professional installation services. If you’re getting a basic smart thermostat and your home already has a C-wire, you might install the thermostat on your own. Luckily, many smart thermostats for home use are designed to be user-friendly and easy to install. However, if you have a complicated HVAC system, you should invest in hiring a professional HVAC technician to install your smart thermostat system.
Are Smart Thermostats Worth the Price?
Is it worth going smart when it comes to your thermostat? The trend in home landscaping is increasingly leaning towards a fully integrated smart home with all the possible elements in your house synchronized together to create a customized environment just for you. A smart thermostat is a worthwhile addition if you love the convenience and comfort of a smart home that caters to your needs and adjusts the environment precisely to your tastes.
What’s more, smart thermostats tend to pay for themselves in the long run, particularly if you live in states with harsh climates or you leave your home regularly. A smart thermostat will continuously adjust your home’s HVAC so that it won’t be working overtime, and you’ll be able to see those savings when it comes to your electric bills. Know more about Smart Thermostat.
Conclusion
Your home is your castle, so you need to know how to choose a smart thermostat to make your castle as, well, homey as possible! Heating and cooling keep you cozy and comfortable, but it also keeps you and your family safe and healthy. Smart thermostats will give you as much control over your home environment as possible.
The bottom line is that you need to choose a smart thermostat that makes sense to you. Before picking a unit, weigh your options and consider all possible choices to make your purchase the best one possible.